Tuesday, May 08, 2007 Garcias’ P50M case v. Sonny dismissed
REGIONAL Trial Court (RTC) Judge Leopoldo Cañete dismissed the P50-million damage suit filed in 2004 against former senator John “Sonny” Osmeña “for besmirching the reputation” of former Cebu governor Pablo Garcia, his daughter Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia and other Capitol officials.
The dismissal of the case is based on the failure of the plaintiffs to file their comments and opposition to the motions filed by the camp of Osmeña, who is again running for senator this year.
“Accommodating the plaintiffs in the name of fair play and in the interest of justice is fine and sound but to do so for the second time is too much,” read Cañete’s order.
The Garcias filed the damage suit against Osmeña for the accusations he made in a plunder complaint he filed before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas.
Accusation
The former senator had accused Pablo of using Capitol funds amounting to about P800 million to ensure the victory of Gwendolyn in the 2004 elections
He said the disbursement of about P800 million of Capitol funds, “a lot of which was not authorized by the provincial budget of 2003, was spent by Garcia in the 2004 elections to support the candidacy of his daughter and now incumbent Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia-Codilla.”
Gwendolyn won over Osmeña’s son John Gregory “John-john” Osmeña in the May 10, 2004 elections.
Provincial Engineer Peter Madera, Provincial Budget Officer Eduardo Habin, Provincial Accountant Mamerto Ypil, Provincial Treasurer Roy Salubre and other Capitol officials were also named in Osmeña’s plunder complaint.
The plunder complaint remains pending before the anti-graft court, lawyer Edgar Gica said. (KNT)
